PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

What are common cold injuries and how are they managed? Frostnip is when the surface skin begins to freeze, becoming red and painful. Frostbite is when the body area freezes, forming ice crystals within cells. You should treat frostbite as a medical emergency and follow the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS) while moving the casualty to a warm, sheltered area. Hyperthermia What is hyperthermia? Hyperthermia may be caused by excessive heat absorption from a hot environment, excessive heat production from metabolic activity, failure of the cooling mechanisms, or an alteration in the body’s set temperature. Hyperthermia can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Dehydration What is dehydration and how do you manage it? Dehydration happens when fluid intake does not equal perspiration loss. The casualty has a clammy skin, weak pulse and is nauseous, dizzy and anxious. Replace fluids by encouraging them to drink water, juice, or sports drinks. You should seek medical help if symptoms get worse or don’t improve within 24 hours, the casualty is elderly or an infant, or if you think a prescription medication caused the dehydration. Heat exhaustion What is heat exhaustion and how do you manage it? Heat exhaustion is when the body temperature rises beyond its normal core temperature but is still less than 40°C. Indications include fatigue associated with headache, nausea, vomiting, malaise, dizziness and possibly collapse. It is important to lie the casualty down, loosen and remove excessive clothing, moisten the skin with a moist cloth or atomiser spray, cool by fanning, give water to drink (only if fully conscious). Call EMS (dial triple zero, 000) and keep the casualty in the shade. Heat Stroke What is heat stroke and how do you manage it? Heat stroke is defined as when your body temperature rises dangerously high, more than 40°C. The casualty will have hot, dry, skin, rapid pulse and is disoriented or unconscious. You should treat heat stroke as a medical emergency, call EMS and follow the Cycle of Care (DRABCDS), assist the casualty to a cool area, spray or sponge him with cool water, cover him with wet cloth and continue to monitor the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS) until EMS personnel arrive. Eye injuries What are different types of eye injuries? Eyes can be injured by burns, wounds, small objects (dirt dust), penetrating or embedded objects and smoke. How do you manage eye injuries? Determine what type of injury it is. Follow the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS). Identify factors that could potentially make it worse. Don’t touch the eye and don’t allow the casualty to rub their eye. It is important that you don’t attempt to remove any object penetrating the eye and that you don’t apply pressure to the eye when bandaging it. Decide whether this can be managed by you or whether EMS is required.

HLTAID003 - PROVIDE FIRST AID Envenomation How do you manage envenomation? Use the Cycle of Care

HLTAID003 - PROVIDE FIRST AID

(DRSABCDS). If possible and safe, get a good look at the creature, or capture it for positive identification. However, do not take time away from emergency care or put yourself at risk. Ask for a history of events: what happened where, etc. Act quickly, seek medical care in all cases, even when in doubt if a casualty has been bitten or stung. For urgent advice regarding envenomation call the 24-hour Australian Venom Research Unit telephone number: 1300 760 451 or 03 9483 8204. Reaction to venom may depend on the casualty’s size, current health, previous exposure, body chemistry, location of the bite or sting and how much venom was injected. Some casualties have severe allergic reactions to even minor bites or stings – particularly bee stings. See ‘allergic reactions’ for treatment of anaphylaxis (extreme sensitivity to a particular substance such as a venom causing a severe allergic reaction). Treat any bite or sting that produces a deep wound, or alters the casualty’s breathing or consciousness level, as a medical emergency. Follow primary care procedures. Pressure immobilisation bandage can slow the spread of venom but is not always advised. When is the pressure immobilisation technique recommended for envenomation? The pressure immobilisation technique is recommended for application to bites and stings by all Australian venomous snakes, including sea snakes, funnel web spider, blue-ringed octopus and cone shell. The pressure immobilisation technique is NOT recommended for first aid management of other spider bites, including red back, jellyfish and fish stings, including stonefish and stings by scorpions, centipedes or beetles. Environmental impact Hypothermia What is hypothermia and who is at risk? Hypothermia is defined as when the body temperature rises dangerously low (below35°C). Those at risk are the very young and the elderly, those under influence of alcohol / drugs, trapped in a cold / wet / windy environment, seriously injured (major burns) and unconscious persons. You should treat hypothermia that alters consciousness as a medical emergency.

How do you manage hypothermia? Begin with primary assessment and care. Gently remove the casualty from any cold / wet / windy environment (no jostling). Remove wet clothing, cover with warm blanket, and give warm oral fluids (non-alcoholic) only if the person is fully conscious. Continue the Cycle of Care (DRSABCDS) until Emergency Medical Services personnel arrive.

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PADI RTO

PADI RTO